Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BEIJING432
2010-02-23 23:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

FEBRUARY 23, 2010 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: U.S.-PRC RELATIONS,

Tags:  PREL PHUM PARM KN NG DA UN CH IR JA PK IN ZA IS 
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SUBJECT: FEBRUARY 23, 2010 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: U.S.-PRC RELATIONS,
IRAN, DPRK, CLIMATE, PAKISTAN, GAO ZHISHENG

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SUBJECT: FEBRUARY 23, 2010 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: U.S.-PRC RELATIONS,
IRAN, DPRK, CLIMATE, PAKISTAN, GAO ZHISHENG


1. Key points at the February 23, 2010 MFA press briefing were:

--China looks to the United States to take credible measures to undo
the damage to U.S.-PRC relations following arms sales to Taiwan and
President Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama.

--China hopes relevant parties will show flexibility and resolve the
Iran nuclear issue through diplomatic means.

--Google's public accusations of PRC interference in its operations
in China are groundless and accusations of Chinese government
involvement are irresponsible and driven by ulterior motives.

-- China believes that realizing the denuclearization of the Korean
Peninsula is a fundamental interest of all relevant countries and
its position will not change in response to recent tension with the
United States.

U.S.-China Relations
--------------


2. China had made stern representations to the United States about
President Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama and arms sales to
Taiwan and looked to the United States to take credible measures to
"undo the damage" caused to the bilateral relationship, spokesperson
Qin Gang said at the February 23 regularly scheduled MFA press
conference. The spokesperson did not have any information on
whether recent bilateral tensions would affect President Hu Jintao's
participation at the April Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.
The spokesperson also said officials from both countries were
already in contact to make preparations for the U.S.-PRC Human
Rights Dialogue.

Iran Sanctions
--------------


3. Asked for comment on potential new sanctions against Iran, Qin
stated that the PRC hoped relevant parties would cooperate with the
IAEA, show flexibility, step up diplomatic efforts to promote
dialogue and work for a comprehensive resolution of the Iran nuclear
issue through diplomatic means.

East China Sea
--------------


4. China's position on territorial claims in the East China Sea was

consistent and unequivocal. China and Japan had reached a
principled consensus and China would affirm and uphold that
consensus, Ma declared in response to a question on the China-Japan
territorial dispute in the East China Sea.

Whereabouts of Gao Zhisheng
--------------


5. In response to an inquiry on the whereabouts of lawyer and
rights activist Gao Zhisheng, Qin stated that he did not know the
whereabouts of Gao, and when pressed later in the briefing to
confirm whether Gao was still alive, Qin reiterated that he did not
have any information about Gao.

Google
--------------


6. Google's public statement of January 20 on Chinese interference
in its operations was groundless, according to Qin. The PRC
administered the Internet according to the law and its position
would not change, according to Qin, who added that Chinese law
prohibited computer hacking. Asked about reports that the hacking
was traced back to Shanghai Jiaotong University and Lanxiang
Vocational School in Shandong province, Qin referred to statements
by each school denying involvement. Such reports were groundless
and accusations of PRC government involvement were irresponsible and
driven by ulterior motives, Qin stated.

Sanctions on U.S. Companies
--------------


7. Qin stated that China would carry out its pledge to sanction
U.S. companies involved in arms sales to Taiwan. When pressed to

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state when the sanctions would commence and what sectors would be
targeted, Qin declined to provide additional information.

Denuclearization of Korean Peninsula
--------------


8. Asked whether recent tension in U.S.-China relations would
affect China's position on North Korea, Qin stated that realizing
the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and safeguarding peace
and stability in Northeast Asia was in the fundamental interest of
all relevant countries. In response to a separate question on
whether reports that the PRC had urged the DPRK to open up its
economy and focus on economic development were accurate, Qin
responded that such reports were not consistent with facts and ran
counter to the PRC's diplomatic principle of non-interference in the
internal affairs of other states. Qin also denied reports that Kim
Jong-Il's son, Kim Jong-Un, secretly had visited China, stating
categorically that there had been no such visit.

OXFAM
--------------


9. In response to a question on OXFAM's activities in China, Qin
stated that he was not aware of any issue involving OXFAM. China
welcomed NGOs to support China's modernization drive, but all NGOs
must operate according to Chinese laws.

Niger Coup
--------------


10. China was following recent political unrest in Niger closely,
took note of recent UN, African Union and ECOWAS efforts to mediate
the dispute, and called on all parties to resolve differences
through dialogue.

Copenhagen Accord
--------------


11. Qin confirmed that Premier Wen Jiabao had sent a letter to
Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen January 29 that indicated that the
PRC "positively evaluated" and supported the Copenhagen Accord
resulting from the UN Climate Change Conference. Rasmussen had sent
a reply letter to Premier Wen February 12 that applauded the
positive outcome of the UN Climate Change Conference and expressed
appreciation of Premier Wen's "important, constructive role" at the
Conference, according to Qin.

Resignation at UNFCCC
--------------


12. Qin praised outgoing Executive Secretary of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change Yvo de Boer, stating that
China supported de Boer's work as Executive Secretary, and adding
that China hoped de Boer would continue his efforts to combat
climate change in his new post.

Pakistan FM Qureshi Visit
--------------


13. Qin confirmed that Pakistan FM Qureshi met FM Yang Jiechi
February 22 and Premier Wen Jiabao February 23. In the Yang-Qureshi
meeting, FM Yang had called for China and Pakistan to maintain
positive momentum in the development of bilateral relations and FM
Qureshi had pledged to work with the PRC to enhance cooperation in
various fields. Asked to comment on FM Qureshi's February 23 public
statement welcoming China to play an intermediary role in resolving
the India-Pakistan dispute, Qin stated that Pakistan and India were
both important countries in South Asia and that sound Pakistan-India
relations were conducive to regional peace and development. China
welcomed improvements in Pakistan-India relations as well as efforts
to resolve the dispute through dialogue and negotiation.

Zambia President Visit
--------------


14. Zambian President Rupiah Banda would make his first visit to
China at the invitation of President Hu Jintao from February 24 to
March 4. During the visit, President Banda would meet President Hu,
NPC Chairman Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao. The two sides would

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discuss the bilateral relationship and sign a business cooperation
agreement that would further promote friendship between the
countries, according to Qin.

Israel Deputy Prime Minister Visit
--------------


15. Qin confirmed that Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Moshe ya'Alon
would visit China for an in-depth broad exchange with State
Councilor Dai Bingguo on issues of mutual interest. Qin added that
China hoped that parties in the Middle East would take measures to
restore mutual trust and make positive efforts to advance peace
talks.

Ambassador Bosworth Visit
--------------


16. Qin stated that U.S. Special Representative for North Korea
Policy Bosworth would visit Beijing February 24 and discuss the
Six-Party Talks and other issues of mutual interest with PRC Special
Representative for the Six-Party Talks Wu Dawei. Asked to comment
on potential U.S.-DPRK meetings, Qin stated that China supported
efforts conducive to the early resumption of the Six-Party Talks,
but that he could not confirm any plans for U.S.-DPRK interaction.


Ukraine Presidential Inauguration
--------------


17. PRC Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu will attend Ukrainian
President-elect Victor Yanukovich's inauguration February 25 as
President Hu's special envoy.

Croatian Foreign Minister Visit
--------------


18. Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration
Gordon Yang will visit China from February 28 to March 4 at the
invitation of FM Yang Jiechi.

HUNTSMAN